Time Capsule - Art Journal

      My art journal of 21 pages – 21 days.

A project I started a while ago, I promised myself that I'll create an image every day, which will convey in my own way, the mood/event/emotions/thoughts I had that day.

I noticed that very often when I look at my paintings, I enter the same state of mind I was in when I was painting it. I remember the music or the movie played in the background, sometimes I could even remember the emotions I had at the time, without even trying to make them show in the painting.

I always wanted to document events of my life, and tried to do so many times... but, words are just not really my thing. It is hard for me to concentrate and deliver a text that would have the same chaotic amazingness that is going on in my mind. Plus the whole reading of all I have written afterwards, seemed more like a chore than something I would enjoy revisiting...

Being a visual person, I rely heavily on my visual memory... Painting a documentary journal was the perfect solution for me. Each day I had to invest hours of my time, to sit, relax and focus all my feelings, thoughts and energy into a piece of paper. To strengthen the visual capsulated element of my day, I scribbled words onto the image. Saying it in my head but not trying to make it readable, so that my privacy and secrecy will stay untouched.

The purpose of this journal proved itself to be successful, when I noticed a smudge of color on one of the pages. When I was fixing it, I got shocked with an image, a conversation.. At first I couldn't understand where it was coming from and then I remembered, It was a scene in the movie that I was watching while painting that exact spot.

Reasons why I made this journal:

- I wanted to document daily events of my life.

- Needed to address the issue of commitment and procrastination that I'm struggling with.

- Wanted to have a reason to do something creative every day.

Problems I encountered:

- Time was an issue; I was under pressure from work load of other projects.

- Sometimes it was hard to create an abstract image to convey an event.

Results:

- It really got me thinking about meaning of color, both universal and personal.

- I created a personal language to express myself with.

- Half way through I did manage to break my lazy self to fit the commitment of doing something each day.

- Seeing the finished journal is very rewarding, I feel like I have done something meaningful.

Full images can be found at Art Journal 

Upcycling - Mixed media paintings

   There was a very logical and intuitive progression in my work, up till the point where I started creating these mixed media paintings.

In craft projects I enjoyed working with materials that usually would end up being thrown away. In photography I focused on elements that are being overlooked, interesting design of a simple wash cloth, unique tile arrangement of the floor, the fuzzy skin of a peach or the amazing texture of its seed etc. I used those photographs, arranged by colors and piecing them together to create a big color splash image.

  When it comes to painting, I have tried attaching different elements, but it just did not go well. It was only when I was introduced to a paste called Gesso that I was able to achieve the effect that I wanted. Gesso is used as primary coat on canvases; it can also be used to create interesting textures, and can be painted with when mixed with different pigments.

My main use of it as a binding material for my objects, since it dries to be stone hard and holds them in place extremely well.

  I carefully choose the items I will be using, focusing more on circular or spherical objects. Some are found objects, others I make myself out of plastic or metal.

Creating these paintings is a very fun and playful process. I arrange everything the way it visually appeals to me, then build up more texture around the main composition and choose a color scheme. The rest is up to how the paint will flow around it, being very diluted by water, with gravity being a big factor and me as I choose where and how I add the paint. The last part of the process is identifying the main visuals of the composition, and bringing them forward by adding more contrast and adding a lot of details.

Recently I came across the term upcycling:

Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value. - Wikipedia

It summed up everything that was going through my head and put my motives for using those materials into words. It's a very innovative idea and the possibilities are endless. It also provides an inexpensive outlet of creativity. The term is mostly used in regard for more craft like projects and does not fully apply to my art, but in any case, it is a part of it.

The materials I often use:

   Color - acrylic, oil, watercolor, charcoal, different inks, and original color from
               uncovered objects..

   Metal - wire, net, coins, cut outs from cans, staples and more..

   Plastic - mostly caps and cut outs from different plastic containers..

   Thread - thin thread for color addition, yarn for texture or securing bigger objects..

   Fabric - different types for texture..

   Paper - different types of paper for texture, cardboard..

   Gems - valuable gems that were unused by my mom in her jewelry designs..

   Sand - small or big grain mixed with gesso for texture..

   Egg shells - used to create a cracked looking like texture, pressed onto gesso or
                       modeling paste..

   Wood - wood chips and other organic dry materials..

   Glass - broken glass, marbles..

More images of my work can be found at Mixed Media

                                                Other amazing ideas

These images and more can be found at Random upcycling ideas plus information about how they were made.

  So what are you waiting for? Grab the nearest plastic container and imagine what you can make out of it! Remember, many famous artists are using those simple found objects and making them into high art. While it can still be a fun craft project for the whole family or friends.

 

Limits that push you forward

Each and every one of us has that little something that we really love doing. We love doing that one special thing so much that we can do it all the time, until; we reach the point where we can't stand it. In my art practice I've reached those points many times. In most cases it was because of my passion towards it and the fact that I tend to overdo things.

In this post I want to talk about a similar case. For the longest time, I painted in what I like to call “rainbow explosion”. The reason for it was directly connected to my need for more colors in my life at the time. The repeated use of the colors made me feel stuck; I avoided “dirty” colors because they didn't have enough contrast for me. At the same time, I adored paintings with calm colors, browns and greens, but was unable to create them myself. Even when I told myself that I wanted my painting to be in dirty colors, I ended up covering it with brighter colors.

The project, “3 colors +” was my way to get away from the norms I had created. It started with me grabbing three random paint bottles and messing around with them on a piece of paper. Then I made another one and then I thought it might be interesting to ask someone else to pick them for me, so I asked my boyfriend to name three different colors. That was the beginning of the project. The compositions were easy, and for this project they weren't that important. The main idea was to color it with only three colors, plus black and white, and make it visually pleasing. I made few more with my choice of random mixed colors, others were suggested by my friends and family. I struggled with the paintings where someone else made the color selection, but it pushed me to work harder on them, knowing someone took the time to think of them just for me. There was just no way for me to face myself if I wouldn't complete it.

I was limited by 3 colors, but in many ways it freed me, and the same idea can be applied to many other art fields.

More information and larger images can be found at 3 Colors +